2 questions about submitting to PROs (in regard to exclusivity and Spotify)

[AnthonyCeseri]

As far as I can tell from this forum and other sources, when you're submitting to a library you don't need to register your songs with your PRO first as the library will take care of that.

Question 1: Does that only apply for exclusive libraries, or non-ex too? Will non-ex libraries tell you whether or not they want you to register it yourself, or is it assumed they'll do it?

Question 2: Should you submit to your PRO when putting your music out on DSPs (Spotify, Apple Music, etc.)? Regardless of whether or not you're submitting to libraries?

Thanks!

[Casey H]

As far as I can tell from this forum and other sources, when you're submitting to a library you don't need to register your songs with your PRO first as the library will take care of that.

Question 1: Does that only apply for exclusive libraries, or non-ex too? Will non-ex libraries tell you whether or not they want you to register it yourself, or is it assumed they'll do it?

Question 2: Should you submit to your PRO when putting your music out on DSPs (Spotify, Apple Music, etc.)? Regardless of whether or not you're submitting to libraries?

Thanks!

If you know you are only submitting to non-exclusive libraries, registering songs yourself is generally fine because their registration will have an alternate title, most of the time the original title with a tag added such as "MIDDR-Love You Always". WIth exclusive libraries, sometimes it creates work for them because they want to be the publisher under your original title which means the registration needs to be changed or some assignment paperwork filed. That's why it's often best not to register on your own.

If you are submitting songs for streaming, yes you should register them because a portion of the royalties from streaming comes through you PRO.

Best,
Casey

[AnthonyCeseri]

That's great, everything I needed to know – thanks so much for the detailed answer, Casey!

[AnthonyCeseri]

If you know you are only submitting to non-exclusive libraries, registering songs yourself is generally fine because their registration will have an alternate title, most of the time the original title with a tag added such as "MIDDR-Love You Always". WIth exclusive libraries, sometimes it creates work for them because they want to be the publisher under your original title which means the registration needs to be changed or some assignment paperwork filed. That's why it's often best not to register on your own.

If you are submitting songs for streaming, yes you should register them because a portion of the royalties from streaming comes through you PRO.

Casey – as a follow up, if I just had a handful of tracks accepted by a non-exclusively library, and I currently have those songs out on the streaming services, should I go ahead and register those songs with my PRO now? (they haven't been previously registered)

Or is it "too late" in the sense that the library is taking them on now and will be registering them themselves?

[Casey H]

If you know you are only submitting to non-exclusive libraries, registering songs yourself is generally fine because their registration will have an alternate title, most of the time the original title with a tag added such as "MIDDR-Love You Always". WIth exclusive libraries, sometimes it creates work for them because they want to be the publisher under your original title which means the registration needs to be changed or some assignment paperwork filed. That's why it's often best not to register on your own.

If you are submitting songs for streaming, yes you should register them because a portion of the royalties from streaming comes through you PRO.

Casey – as a follow up, if I just had a handful of tracks accepted by a non-exclusively library, and I currently have those songs out on the streaming services, should I go ahead and register those songs with my PRO now? (they haven't been previously registered)

Or is it "too late" in the sense that the library is taking them on now and will be registering them themselves?

Yes, register them. As I posted, the non-exclusive libraries won't be registering under original title, they'll alter the title with a tag and register that way so they can take the publisher's share for only THEIR placements. No conflict with your registrations under original title. Any streaming PRO royalties will get paid per the original title registration. Make sense?

Casey

[AnthonyCeseri]

Yes, register them. As I posted, the non-exclusive libraries won't be registering under original title, they'll alter the title with a tag and register that way so they can take the publisher's share for only THEIR placements. No conflict with your registrations under original title. Any streaming PRO royalties will get paid per the original title registration. Make sense?
Casey

It does, got it... thanks! I was asking bc I thought if I hadn't registered mine yet, then the library would use the *actual* title (since i didn't yet) and there would be a conflict if we did it at the same time... so thanks again for clarifying!